From Nick Wells
Marc Thioux has a good point that in certain cases savant skills need some developmental honing (7 June, p 10).
In the case of the musical savant Derek Paravicini, the music teacher Adam Ockelford, of the then Royal National Institute for the Blind, spent 18 years as his mentor to develop his astounding musical genius. Paravicini benefited from his parents’ recognition, and the appreciation of his particular innate musical ability.
It is a shame that the 18-year-old girl “AVK” studied by Thioux was prevented by her mother from developing her savant calendar skills.
The music world would be a sadder place if Derek Paravicini’s parents stopped him from playing the piano, just because he was using his elbows, fists and nose to play it with.
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Reigate, Surrey, UK
